Product Description

From start to finish, the book of Luke is filled with amazement. Throughout the life and ministry of Jesus, those who met him were astonished by their encounter, from the shepherds at the nativity to the disciples at the empty tomb.

With careful attention to detail, Michael Card embarks on an imaginative journey through the Gospel of Luke. He introduces us to Luke the historian and imagines his life as a Gentile, a doctor and a slave.

Card explores Luke's compelling account of this dynamic rabbi who astounded his hearers with parables and paradoxes. What might Luke have experienced as he interviewed eyewitnesses of Jesus? What leads Luke to focus on the marginalized and the unlikely? Why does Luke include certain details that the other Gospel writers omit? Join Michael Card in the work of opening heart and mind to the "Gospel of Amazement."

Product Information

Publisher's Description

"His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him." Luke 2:33 "Everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing." Luke 9:43 "He went home, amazed at what had happened." Luke 24:12 From start to finish, the book of Luke is filled with amazement. Throughout the life and ministry of Jesus, those who met him were astonished by their encounter, from the shepherds at the nativity to the disciples at the empty tomb. With careful attention to detail, Michael Card embarks on an imaginative journey through the Gospel of Luke. He introduces us to Luke the historian and imagines his life as a Gentile, a doctor and a slave. Card explores Lukes compelling account of this dynamic rabbi who astounded his hearers with parables and paradoxes. What might Luke have experienced as he interviewed eyewitnesses of Jesus? What leads Luke to focus on the marginalized and the unlikely? Why does Luke include certain details that the other Gospel writers omit? Join Michael Card in the work of opening heart and mind to the "Gospel of Amazement."

Author Bio

In a career that spans 30 years, Michael Card has recorded over 31 albums, authored or co-authored over 24 books, hosted a radio program, and written for a wide range of magazines. An award-winning musician and performing artist, he has penned such favorites as "El Shaddai," "Immanuel" and many other songs. He has branched his ministry beyond music and written numerous books, including and (a children's book). He has also written the with a book and accompanying music CD for each of the four gospels. A graduate of Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's and master's degree in biblical studies, Card also serves as mentor to many younger artists and musicians, teaching courses on the creative process and calling the Christian recording industry into deeper discipleship. Card lives in Tennessee with his wife and four children.

Editorial Reviews

"In honoring his mentor William Lane, Michael Card illumines a forgotten path of biblical imagination by a thorough examination of the book of Luke. I have been using this book as a meditation in my studio to live and create as an artist of the twenty-first century; I found every page to be eye-opening. This book is a feast for truth seekers and creators. Michael Card invites all of us to a magnificent journey of hesed (grace and mercy). This humble offering is a sweet aroma and an invaluable contribution to all those who desire to know the Bible and live creatively."
"In its straightforwardness and simplicity of presentation . . . Card's exposition provides an uncomplicated guide to this gospel that well serves the novice reader."
"Though Card taps into the discoveries of scholars, his work is accessible to the lay reader. . . . He lives up to his goal of providing a fresh, rich approach to the biblical text."
"Michael Card has taught hundreds of thousands of us to love Jesus more deeply. Now, with this new book, he teaches us to follow Jesus more closely. Thanks, Michael!"
"Many know Michael Card as a celebrated songwriter. I know Michael as an inspiring theologian who loves the Word of God! I am thus so thrilled that he is writing the Biblical Imagination Series starting with the Gospel of Luke. Luke and Michael Card have much in common, not the least of which is that they both love stories and songs. But most significantly, they both love Jesus. We're in for a most wonderful treat!"

Sometimes those of us who grew up in Christian homes heard the stories about Jesus so many times that the Gospel writers seemed to take on the tone of the adults in "Peanuts". And now some of us tend to silently respond with:

"Water into wine?_yeah, yeah_I've heard that before (yawn)".

For anyone who would like to experience Jesus in a more three-dimensional way, in a way that seems to let you step into the story, a way that lets you walk around the characters and observe them from different angles, I highly recommend Luke: The Gospel of Amazement by Michael Card.

This gifted musician and lyricist tries to teach us to read the Gospels with what he calls "biblical imagination". He starts with helping us understand Luke. What kind of man was he? What was his social background? What might have been important influences in his life and thinking? Some of these questions can be answered with fact, some with well thought out and scholarly hypotheses. I was pleasantly surprised to discover how knowing something of the author really did help bring often read words to life.

He goes on to deal with the Gospel chapter by chapter, breaking each into smaller bits, and then shares historical, societal, and religious information from the time period to give a framework for the happenings in the life of the Messiah that helps the stories spring three dimensionally into the mental equivalent of a child's pop-up book.

Of course, not all of his suppositions are equally new or earth-shattering, and he never tries to present his own speculation as fact, but he does teach us that being "in the Word" means so much more than reading our chapter a day. It's work, and digging, a becoming familiar with the whole to help understand the individual passage.

This book was a real blessing that helped transform my thinking about the reality of the person of Jesus, and helped me know Him, and want to know Him, better.

The next in the series, Mark : The Gospel of Passion, comes out next year. I can't wait. J